"The organization gave me a lot of good players," Johnson said. "It's a tribute to the organization.You always want to try to please your bosses. I feel we have a higher ceiling.I think we can do more."

Johnson was American League manager of the year in 1997 but was let go by Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos the same day that award was announced.

This time, Johnson â?? who will turn 70 before opening day -- knows he'll be back for one more season with a team that he expects to improve on a year that ended with a stunning Division Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

"I said early on that if we don't win the (division) they should fire me, we had so much talent on my ballclub," Johnson said. W"e got that done, so I'm proud of that."

He agreed Saturday to the new deal for the season he says will be his last as manager. The plan is for Johnson to return to the consulting position he held with the team before taking over as manager when Jim Riggleman resigned in June 2011.

Johnson's first full season as Washington manager produced a record 98 victories for a franchise that has been in Washington since 2005 but began as the Montreal Expos in 1969.

The Nationals were 40-43 in 2011 after Johnson took over, but he said entering spring training this year that he thought he had a playoff team.

"I knew in August (2011) this club had enough talent and, if we played up to our potential, we could win the pennant," Johnson said.

The mostly young group â?? budding stars include outfielder Bryce Harper, pitching Stephen Strasburg and shortstop Ian Desmond â?? proved him right from the beginning.

Washington started the season 14-4 and moved into first place to stay with back-to-back victories May 21-22 at the Philadelphia Phillies, the five-time defending NL East champs the Nationals unseated.

The young players emerged, including Harper winning the NL rookie of the year award announced Monday. The pitching staff became the best in the league. And veterans such as Adam LaRoche, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth added to the offense.

"All I'm doing is giving them an opportunity to succeed," Johnson told USA TODAY Sports late in the season. "From the first day I was a manager, I always was candid. It's my job to make sure everybody knows what's expected of them. Successful managers let guys play, have patience and let them develop."

Johnson has been a successful manager at nearly every stop. He won five previous division titles with the Orioles, Reds and New York Mets plus the 1986 World Series with the Mets. Only a two-year stop with the Los Angeles Dodgers didn't include a playoff berth.

The 2000 Dodgers were his last major league stop â?? he did manage Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and 2008 Olympics â?? until the Nationals opening.